A budget-friendly two days in Birmingham

A visit to our city doesn't have to be an expensive one, Birmingham is home to an array of great attractions, food offerings, and events for everyone to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Budget-friendly accommodation:  Selina Birmingham, Aparthotel Adagio Birmingham City Centre, Bloc Hotel
Recommended for: Mini-breakers / Couples / Students
Price: £



Day 1

7:00-9:00 / Breakfast / Grand Central Kitchen

Kick off your day with a scrumptious breakfast at Grand Central Kitchen. This popular independent café, conveniently located just across from New Street Station, offers a mouthwatering full English breakfast that will provide the perfect fuel for your exciting day ahead!

20 minute walk to the Roundhouse Birmingham

10:00-11:30 / Attraction / Roundhouse Birmingham Bingo Walking Tour

The ultimate Brummie walking tour, with a (gently) competitive element, the Roundhouse Bingo Walking Tour is a great introduction to Birmingham’s brilliant spaces, histories, and people.

Unlike your typical walking tour, this one-of-a-kind experience touches on canals and comedy; Baskerville and Brutalism; heavyweight politicians and heavy metal.

Birmingham Bingo

14 minute walk to Tierra Tacos

12:00 – 13:30 / Lunch / Tierra Tacos

Next, head over to the vibrant Jewellery Quarter for a bite to eat at the much-loved Tierra Tacos. Recently relocated to 1000 Trees, this popular eatery serves a delicious selection of fresh tacos and refreshing margaritas.

If you’re lucky enough to visit on a Monday, you can enjoy two tacos, green rice, frijoles, salsa and sour cream for only £12 – what a bargain!

5 minute walk to Jewellery Quarter

14:00 – 16:00 / Activity / Jewellery Quarter

Home to 700 jewellers and independent retailers, a thriving food and drink scene and an area steeped in incredible history, no trip to the city is complete without a visit to the iconic Jewellery Quarter.

We recommend taking a leisurely stroll through the streets, where you can admire the stunning architecture and explore the numerous shops. If museums are more your vibe, you’re in luck! The Pen Museum, RBSA Gallery and The Coffin Works all offer affordable entry.

14 minute walk to Hockley Social Club

16:00 – 21:00 / Dinner and entertainment / Hockley Social Club

To finish off your first day, make your way to Hockley Social Club, a unique street food venue housed in a converted 10,000 square foot printing factory. They offer a full calendar of amazing events, including live music every Friday, classical music with the CBSO, monthly comedy nights, and a Sunday morning lifestyle market.

Hockley Social Club

With three permanent kitchens, plus a rotating monthly resident, you can experience some of the most exciting and diverse offerings from across the region all under one roof.



Day 2

7:00-9:00 / Breakfast / Yorks Cafe

Named in The Guardian's 50 best breakfast spots in Britain, Yorks Cafe serves up brunch classics, plus a host of Middle East-inspired dishes and an excellent selection of breakfast sandwiches from only £5.

10 minute walk to The Library of Birmingham

10:00 - 12:00 / Activity / The Library of Birmingham

One of the most iconic buildings in the city, The Library of Birmingham is the largest public library in Europe and is home to over 1 million books.

Free to enter, the library holds the second largest Shakespeare collection in the world, including a Shakespeare First Folio. 

Birmingham Library

11 minute walk to Tiger Bites Pig

12:30 - 13:30 / Lunch / Tiger Bites Pig

Bringing the freshest, homemade bao and rice bowls to Birmingham, Tiger Bites Pig serves affordable and delicious street-food dishes, including bao buns and rice bowls.

They offer vegan friendly options, as well as weekly specials, which means that there’s always plenty of options for everyone.

9 minute walk to Back to Backs

14:00 - 16:00 / Attraction / Back to Backs

Experience 200 years of working people's lives in the heart of Birmingham at NT Birmingham Back to Backs.

Find out what it was like to live there, read about Birmingham’s rich and diverse heritage and discover the ordinary people who brought the Back to Backs to life.

Back to Backs

10 minute walk to Digbeth

 

17:00- 21:00 / Dinner and activity / Digbeth

Named the 'Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain' by the Sunday Times, Digbeth boasts captivating graffiti, independent shops, and cafes, restaurants and attractions.

For a night-out on a budget, grab a slice of pizza at Baked in Brick, watch a movie at The Mockingbird Cinema and play some games with a cold beer or cocktail at The Floodgate.

 

For more activities, attractions, and restaurants to enjoy on a budget, see our full selection here.